Below is the text of Mr Major's written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 21st March 1986.

Mr. Michie Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is being made by his Department for extra staff to be available to deal with exceptionally severe weather payments in order to avoid the long delays to routine claims.

Mr. Major The manpower provided for DHSS local offices contains a margin to deal with peaks of work such as that relating to exceptionally severe weather which, by their nature, cannot be planned in advance.